Hip Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (arthritis) of the hip is the most common form of arthritis, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. It’s caused by long term damage to the joint surface cartilage.
How is it caused? Osteoarthritis is often caused by age related wear and tear, but it can also be caused by abnormalities of the hip due to other conditions such as hip dysplasia, avascular necrosis, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
What are the symptoms? These include:
A dull ache in the hips, which may come and go and also affect the groin, buttocks and thighs
In some cases, pain may make it difficult to walk long distances without limping
Going upstairs and bending down to tie shoes or cut toenails may also be more difficult
Night pain can disturb your sleep
How is it diagnosed? After discussing your symptoms, the specialist will usually back up the diagnosis with X-rays and MRI or CT scans to show the extent of damage to the cartilage and to see if there’s an underlying cause.